Male State Founder Denies Links to Bomb Threats
Vladislav Pozdniakov says the banned Russian movement no longer exists after hoax threats disrupted European flights.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Terrorism
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Vladislav Pozdniakov, founder of the Russian radical misogynist movement the Male State, denied any links to fake bomb threats in Europe on November 6. Hoax threats forced some commercial flights to be rerouted or escorted by fighter jets, with threat emails sent to the Rome and Sofia airports signed "the fighters of the Male State."
Why it matters
The threats disrupted air travel across Europe, and the use of a movement's name by unknown senders raises questions about who is behind them. Pozdniakov said those organizing provocations under the brand are acting in their own interests, using someone else's flag.
Threat emails targeting the Rome and Sofia airports were signed "the fighters of the Male State," a movement Russian authorities banned as extremist in 2021. The senders of the emails remain unidentified.
The players
Vladislav Pozdniakov
A Russian blogger and fitness coach who founded the Male State in 2016 and has denied that the movement still exists since its 2021 ban.
The details
Commercial flights in Europe were hit by hoax bomb threats during the week, prompting authorities to reroute some planes or escort civilian aircraft with fighter jets. Pozdniakov, a blogger and fitness coach, founded the Male State in 2016 as a community on the Russian social network VK.
Timeline
2016: Pozdniakov founds the Male State as a VK community.
2021: Russian authorities declare the movement extremist and ban it.
November 6, 2026: Pozdniakov denies any links to the European bomb threats.
Legal Context
Russian authorities banned the Male State as an extremist organization in 2021, placing the movement under the country's extremism laws. The continued use of its name in threats to European airports shows how banned groups' branding can be borrowed by unaffiliated actors.
Travelers on European commercial flights may face rerouting, escorts, or delays while authorities respond to hoax threats. Passengers should expect added security checks and possible schedule disruptions while investigations continue.
The takeaway
Hoax threats can cause real disruption even when they are not credible, so travelers should check airline notices before departure. Official confirmation of any threat typically comes from airport and aviation authorities rather than social media or anonymous emails.
Further reading
For more on threats like these, see the Terrorism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Straits Times.
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